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Despite machete attack, Johnstown couple stays positive

Debbie and Gerald Russell, center, talk about the night they were stabbed at the Nazareth restaurant in February. The Johnstown couple has relied on each other and the those in the community to help them through their recovery. Comedian Mary Miller, left, and friend, Patch Wetzel, right, have organized a benefit for the Russells this Saturday night in Johnstown.(Photo: Jessica Phelps/The Advocate)Buy Photo

Story Highlights

A benefit is planned Saturday to support Debbie and Gerald Russell who were injured in a February stabbing at the Nazareth Restaurant.

The couple both experienced significant injuries, but they are recovering well.

The benefit, which included comedy and music, will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Johnstown Opera House.

But Debbie and Gerald Russell refuse to let what happened to them at Nazareth Restaurant and Deli break them or change the way they live their lives.

The Johnstown couple is still healing after a man walked into the Columbus restaurant on Feb. 11 with a machete and stabbed them as they were finishing their meal.

But from the moment they were rushed to Grant Medical Center to all the doctors' appointments and physical therapy sessions that followed, they were determined not to let their attacker win.

"This guy came in for a purpose and the complete opposite happened," Gerald said. "He wanted to create havoc and chaos, and instead everyone has come closer together."

Friends and supporters of their family have organized a benefit concert in their honor at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Johnstown Opera House.

The show will feature comedy by Patch Wetzel, Mary Miller and Jeff Robinson. Reynoldsburg musician Bill Foley, who also was injured in the stabbing, will be performing.

"It’s time to come together," Foley said. "If we all come together, we can be one."

'We were both alive'

Gerald said he knew something was off about the man who walked into Nazareth the moment he locked eyes with him.

The next thing he knew, the man had raised a machete and was trying to bring it down on Gerald's head.

He blocked the knife with his hands and tried to escape, so the man turned on Debbie and slashed her hands.

The man, who was later identified as 30-year-old Mohamed Barry, went on to stab Foley in his head and side. He left the restaurant and was shot and killed by police after a chase, 10TV reported after the attack.

Debbie and Gerald were both able to escape the restaurant and waited in a nearby store for authorities to arrive.

Debbie, who works for a hospital, knew her hands were seriously injured. She was holding her left hand together and knew her arteries and tendons had been cut. Gerald was covered in blood.

Doctors at Grant worked on Debbie for more than five hours in the operating room. Gerald also went through surgery for an hour and a half.

They both came out of surgery with their tendons and arteries reattached. Doctors were concerned Debbie might lose one of her middle fingers, but they were able to save it.

They had their hands wrapped in bandages and could barely even feed themselves, but they knew they would be OK, Gerald said.

"Honestly, I can say I've never been bitter or worried or anything," he said. "We were both alive. We both got to live."

'Deal with it and move on'

After five days in the hospital, Debbie and Gerald were released and able to go back to Johnstown.

Their first stop was Nazareth to show the owner, Hany Baransi, that they were doing well.

"We were in the wrong place at the wrong time, but our belief is, it happened for a reason," Debbie said. "We are strong, and our mindset was we have to deal with it and move on."

They spent the first few months of their recovery relying on help from friends and family. People from Johnstown pitched in to bring them meals, drive them to appointments and help them bathe and get dressed.

"We really couldn't take care of ourselves. I had a thumb and the tips of my fingers, and she had two thumbs, and that's it," Gerald said.

Time and physical therapy helped their hands heal, and they reached out to a counselor to cope with the trauma of what happened, he said.

At first they were apprehensive about going out in public, but they worked through it together, Debbie said.

"We talked endlessly about it. If we were afraid, we talked about what we were afraid of and why," she said.

Although they still have challenging days, they are able to support each other, Debbie said.

"We understand what the other person is going through," she said. "When his scars hurt, I know, because mine hurt."

When they were able to drive, they decided to take a road trip out West to see family for their 25th anniversary. They are both hoping to be ready to go back to work in May.

They've been back to Nazareth for a meal several times.

"We are no longer afraid," Debbie said. "We won. We won this battle and we are OK."

'We have a choice'

Debbie and Gerald have lived in Johnstown for 22 years. Their sons both played in the Johnstown-Monroe High School Marching Band, and they're active in the community.

So when they got hurt, the community took an "all hands on deck" approach to helping them.

Miller, a stand-up comedian from Utica, wanted to support their efforts.

"(The Russells) have been off work for so long, and yes, there is insurance, but there are so many other expenses," she said. "And we wanted to show a big outpouring of love."

Miller and Foley are longtime friends, and they began working with Wetzel, a family friend of the Russells, to coordinate the event.

There will be a food truck, family-friendly comedy and music at the historical opera house.

Foley, who was seriously injured and spent 15 days in intensive care, said he's still recovering from stab wounds and injuries to his hands. But he's looking forward to performing and raising money for the Russells.

"We are trying to bring the love back," he said. "After this, we should be doing what we love. Music is what I love, and to be able to go back to it is a blessing. It’s amazing."

Debbie and Gerald also plan to keep moving forward with the love and support of their friends and family.

"We have a choice," Debbie said. "The man who did this is dead, and we can let him win and do his damage or we can get better, be positive and get on with our lives."

ajeffries@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8544

Twitter: @amsjeffries

If you go

What: Benefit concert for Debbie and Gerald Russell

When: 6 p.m. Saturday; doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Where: The Johnstown Opera House, 1 S. Main St., Johnstown

FYI: A $10 donation is suggested. The space was donated by the Johnstown Historical Society. Because of the age of the building, it has stairs and no elevator. Participants are asked to plan accordingly.

Reynoldsburg musician Bill Foley will perform at a benefit concert for Debbie and Gerald Russell, of Johnstown, who were injured at the same time he was at a stabbing at the Nazareth Restaurant in Columbus.(Photo: Submitted)